Counsel, Land & Title

The Counsel, Land & Title  will will play a critical role in supporting Fervo’s geothermal development and operations through supporting strategic land acquisition, permitting, regulatory compliance, and commercial legal support. This role will report directly to our Vice President, General Counsel.

Responsibilities

• Cross-Functional Coordination: Work with multiple teams across Fervo, and external counsel to support land-related transactions that are consistent with operational goals and financial structures.
• Document Negotiation and Drafting: Draft, review, and negotiate geothermal leases, title curative documents, surface use agreements, ROWs, unitization agreements, joint development agreements, joint operating agreements, purchase and sale agreements, farm-in/farm-out agreements, and lease swaps. Provide legal Advice on compliance and enforceability of contract provisions.
• Land Acquisition and Structuring: Provide legal support for (i) land acquisition across federal, state, tribal, and private lands, (ii) structuring leases, easements, purchase agreements, and other land-related instruments to support geothermal development, and (iii) royalty, marketing, and fluid supply structures. Assist with acquisitions, joint ventures, and infrastructure alignments.
• Title and Due Diligence Support: Support title review and legal due diligence analysis of surface and mineral title  across multiple jurisdictions, with an emphasis on risk analysis and curative pathways. Coordinate with outside title attorneys or land professionals as needed.
• Security Packages & Title Documentation: Advise on and support the execution of recordable security instruments in Utah and Nevada, including deeds of trust, fixture filings, and other collateral documents. Provide legal support on title analysis and curative measures to help ensure valid and marketable interests for project financing.
• Permitting, Regulatory & Compliance: Provide legal advice for land-use permitting, including tribal, state, or local siting permits, and support coordination with permitting consultants and agencies as needed. Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders on leasing, permitting, and land-use matters, with external stakeholders.
• Dispute Resolution: Assist with resolution of lease-related disputes involving landowners, government entities, and third parties. Provide legal input to support risk mitigation strategies in active or potential conflicts.
• Government & Stakeholder Interaction and Support: Advise on permitting and land-related compliance and regulatory processes at the federal and state levels, including BLM leasing, state trust land nominations, and coordination with tribal or local agencies. Support the Land, Environmental and Permitting Teams in discussions with landowners, state agencies, and local communities.
• Due Diligence for Project Finance: Collaborate with project finance and development teams by evaluating legal risks in land-based transactions. Support land-related due diligence for project financings, joint ventures, and acquisitions. Prepare legal summaries and risk assessments to support  internal and external transaction teams and outside counsel.
• Tracking and Reporting: Support Land Administration in maintaining clear documentation of land status, lease obligations, title curative progress, and compliance timelines, including support of internal reporting on legal risks, obligations, and approvals.

Required Qualification

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
• Active membership in good standing in Utah (CO, ID, NM, NV a plus)
• Minimum of 5 years of experience practicing law related energy or natural resources law (geothermal, oil & gas, mining, or real estate), including experience with title review and transactional structuring
• Substantial experience with land use, and title matters in Utah and Nevada, including NEPA and related state frameworks (permitting experience a plus)
• Demonstrated knowledge of Western U.S. Land law, including state and federal lands, and experience handling complex land transactions, including easements, acquisitions, mineral rights, or energy leases
• Experience working with federal land administrators, state land agencies, and local and tribal regulatory agencies 
• Strong familiarity with project development, especially in renewable energy (geothermal a plus)
• Experience with project financing of infrastructure projects, risk evaluation, or structuring complex commercial transactions is a plus
• Strong understanding of contract law, corporate law, and compliance frameworks
• Ability to communicate clearly with legal and non-legal stakeholders and to support interactions with regulators, landowners, and external counsel
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
• Self-starter with ability to manage multiple priorities independently in a fast-paced environment
• Strong problem-solving skills and a pragmatic approach to legal issues
• Experience with environmental permitting or NEPA processes is a plus
• MBA, CPA, accounting background, is a plus

Location

Fervo Energy is headquartered in Houston, TX with satellite offices in the Bay Area, CA, Golden, CO Reno, NV, and Salt Lake City, UT. This position will be eligible for some hybrid work flexibility, but regular in-office presence at a Fervo office will be required.